Generation of genetically modified embryonic stem cells for the development of knockout mouse animal model systems

The aim of our lab is to understand the contributions made by cell adhesion molecules in the processes of disease. Much of our recent work has focused on the role played by beta3-integrin in mediating pathological angiogenesis. It is fair to state that without the ability to manipulate the mouse genome, and specifically to create knockout mice, the advances we have made in this field would not be nearly as significant as they are. The ability to generate knockout mice depends on the two technological breakthroughs of the ability to isolate and culture mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and the methods employed for achieving targeted gene replacement in these cells by homologous recombination. Here, we present the methods we have found to be successful, and that we routinely employ to grow and manipulate ES cells, as well as those to screen and identify homologous recombinants.